Cuttack, a city in Odisha renowned for its centuries-old communal harmony, was shaken by communal tensions after locals objected to high-decibel music during a Durga idol immersion procession, which escalated into clashes.
The initial clash occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday when locals objected to loud music near a dargah, leading to violent confrontations between two groups. Police stated that Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rishikesh Khillari and five others were injured, and six individuals were arrested immediately based on CCTV and drone footage.
During the violence, four people sustained injuries, three have been discharged, while the fourth remains in stable condition. An internet shutdown was imposed from October 5 at 7 p.m. to October 7 at 7 p.m. across Cuttack and nearby areas to curb the spread of rumors on platforms such as WhatsApp, X, and Facebook.
Despite police barricades and the deployment of additional forces, a rumor about a death during the procession spread on social media, further inflaming tensions. The Commissionerate Police stated that false narratives were being circulated to incite fear and disrupt communal harmony.
Tensions escalated again on Sunday when police denied permission for a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) bike rally in sensitive areas to prevent further unrest. VHP activists clashed with police, leading to stone-pelting, arson of shops, and vandalism of vehicles. At least 25 people, including 8–10 police personnel and one senior officer, Amarendra Panda (who was admitted to the ICU), were injured.
On Monday, the VHP enforced a 12-hour bandh (shutdown) demanding action against the “culprits” from the initial clash, a high-level probe, and the transfer of police officials. The Hindu right-wing group also held a motorcycle rally through the Muslim-dominated Dargah Bazar area, chanting slogans and waving saffron flags. Around 40 shops were torched, and nine people were arrested in connection with the unrest. Deployment in the city is set to continue ahead of the upcoming Kali Puja.
Police fired tear gas and used force to disperse the mob, after which the state imposed a 36-hour curfew. Speaking to Maktoob, Ali, a resident of Cuttack, said the situation was tense with no movement outside. “This was a case of provocation, which is why we are here. I am scared to go out of the house,” he said.
Another local shared visuals from August showing RSS members taking out a rally and a mob chanting Islamophobic slurs. “The tension was already there,” he said.
The 36-hour curfew under Section 163 of the BNSS, imposed from Sunday evening across 13 police stations in Cuttack, was relaxed on Tuesday morning following 24 hours of calm. The Police Commissioner said deployment would continue for a few more days, considering the upcoming festival.
BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab claimed that “habitual offenders” and “outsiders” were responsible for the stone-pelting during the immersion, while locals alleged that the VHP had brought thousands of outsiders for the rally.
Bhakta Charan Das, President of the Indian National Congress in Odisha, alleged that the RSS and VHP brought “goons from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat to vandalize and loot shops owned by Hindus and disrupt peaceful Odisha,” asking, “Why is CM Mohan Charan Majhi allowing all this?”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly condemned the violence, saying that “Cuttack is burning” and accusing the BJP and Bajrang Dal of orchestrating communal riots that could “finish off the country.” She criticized the Odisha government for being “arrogant and dictatorial,” warning that power is not permanent and questioning how the SIR could be implemented within 15 days.
Mamata also blamed Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying much of the chaos was his doing and that he behaves like an “acting Prime Minister,” warning people not to trust him blindly. “All of this is Amit Shah’s doing. He acts like an acting PM. But the PM knows everything. Don’t trust Amit Shah always, he will be your Mir Jafar one day. Take care of this; morning shows the day,” she said.
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described the incident as “alarming” for the “city of brotherhood.”
Meanwhile, a video circulated showing two elderly Muslim vendors in Cuttack being harassed and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram.”
Critics allege that since the BJP’s rise to power, Odisha has become a “new testing ground for RSS-orchestrated violence.”
